Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: Rajouri Development Authority Board meeting was held here today to review the physical and financial achievements registered for development and up gradation of tourist related infrastructure in the district.
Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir chaired the meeting while as Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan, Legislators, Dr. Ramash Sharma, Chudary Zulafkar Ali and Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Atul Duloo were also present in the meeting.
While reviewing the physical and financial achievements, the meeting was informed that since the inception of RDA, tourism developmental projects worth Rs. 33.23 crore have been taken up in the district under Centre and State Plans against which Rs. 14.90 crore were expended till last financial year.
The meeting after thread bare discussion approved Rs 1.50 crore action plan of RDA for current financial year.
The meeting was told that under Integrated Development of Tourist Circuit Darhal-Shaker Marg project funds to the tune of Rs 119. 70 Lakh have been released by the Centre, out of which Rs 40.13 lakh stands utilized and the work is going on under various components. It was also informed that work on additional accommodation at TRC Shahdra Sharief is apace at a cost of Rs 65 lakh and would be completed within one month.
The Tourism Minister said that the main objective of the Government was to provide quality infrastructure facilities to the visiting tourists with focused attention for developing new tourism potential spots. He underscored the need for time-bound completion of the on-going projects and stressed upon the concerned Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) not to create liabilities while taking up new projects.
“The existing tourism projects should be completed in all respects and outsourced after completing legal formalities. The utilization certificate of each project should be submitted before forwarding new detailed project reports for the creation of tourist-related infrastructure,” Mir directed to the CEOs.
He said more projects would be forwarded to the Centre for funding so that tourism infrastructure facilities would be upgraded in the area. He directed concerned that before the formulation of project reports for funding, State land should be identified for the purpose.
The Health Minister on the occasion said varied tourism potential of Rajouri district would be explored fully in a systematic manner for which necessary initiatives had been taken already.
He said Rajouri was being developed as a pilgrim destination, while Nangathub was being developed as an eco-tourism destination.
On the occasion, Legislators, Dr Ramash Sharma and Ch. Zulafkar raised several issues related to tourism development in potential areas of their Constituencies.
The Chief Executive Officer presented a power point presentation depicting physical and financial achievements registered by the authority till date.
District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, F C Baghat, Director Tourism, Jammu, Sujanya Sharma, Managing Directors, JKTDC, Cable Car Corporation, Chief Executive Officer, RDA besides senior officers of Planning, Finance and other concerned departments attended the meeting.
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